Cultural Innovations

What Cultural Innovations does

Cultural Innovations is a London-based cultural consultancy founded in 2002 that plans, curates, and designs world-class museums, science centres, heritage sites, and cultural attractions. Its four service lines are Strategy and Masterplanning, Content and Interpretation, Museum and Exhibition Design, and Operations and Business Planning — delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of strategists, content researchers, interpretation planners, and exhibition designers, several of whom previously held in-house roles at institutions such as the Smithsonian and Malaysian National Science Center. The firm has delivered flagship projects including the Grand Egyptian Museum (over 7,000sqm of Main Galleries), the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre in Kuwait (22,000sqm across four museums and 23 galleries), the National Museum of Qatar, the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art's Connecting Stories gallery, The Alamo's interpretive masterplan, Kanoo Museum in Bahrain, and the Great Viking Journey at the Museum of the Viking Age in Oslo. Revenue is generated through bespoke, project-based professional services fees negotiated directly with each client — primarily governments, cultural ministries, and development authorities — with no public pricing, no product distribution, and no disclosed external funding. Geographically the firm has worked in over 30 countries with particular depth across the MENA region, and is currently extending its footprint through regionally embedded senior consultants in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States.

Name

Cultural Innovations

Legal name

Cultural Innovations

Website

https://culturalinnovations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cultural Innovations is a London-based consultancy founded in 2002 that delivers strategy, interpretive planning, content development, and exhibition design for museums, heritage sites, and cultural attractions worldwide. It serves governments and cultural institutions across more than 30 countries, with particular depth in the MENA region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Museum and Cultural Heritage Consulting

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Consulting & Market Suitability Review (MPAAANAF), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Museum consultancy services
• Exhibition design services
• Interpretive planning services
• Cultural master planning
• Heritage consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Cultural consultancy services including strategy and masterplanning, content and interpretation, museum and exhibition design, and operations and business planning for cultural institutions and governments.
2. Project-Based Advisory: Fees for museological advisory services, technical advisory, interpretive planning, and design services on major cultural projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cultural Innovations is a UK-based cultural consultancy that plans, curates and designs world-class cultural experiences for museums, science centres, heritage sites and cultural attractions. The firm delivers four core service lines: Strategy and Masterplanning, Content and Interpretation, Museum and Exhibition Design, and Operations and Business Planning, working alongside architects, designers and partner firms on bespoke engagements worldwide.

Product overview

Cultural Innovations is a UK-based cultural consultancy (established over 20 years) offering professional services rather than a software product. The company provides four core service lines: Strategy and Masterplanning, Content and Interpretation, Museum and Exhibition Design, and Operations and Business Planning. These services are delivered through collaborative project teams working with cultural institutions, governments, and development authorities globally. The company showcases notable projects including the Grand Egyptian Museum, Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre (world's largest cultural project), The Greatest Show On Earth Gallery at The Ringling, Connecting Stories at Smithsonian, Kanoo Museum, Diriyah Art Futures, and the Great Viking Journey at Oslo's Museum of the Viking Age.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategy and Masterplanning Expert services in turning ambitious ideas into real-world success, including visioning, strategic planning, masterplanning, functional planning, and governance models for cultural institutions, governments and development authorities.
• Content and Interpretation Interpretive planning and content development services that place visitors at the heart of projects, creating clear, engaging narratives, major themes, sub-themes and messages essential to the success of cultural experiences.
• Museum and Exhibition Design Design expertise taking projects from concept to full realisation, including exhibits, object displays, graphics, way-finding, multimedia and audio-visual elements for museums, galleries and cultural attractions.
• Operations and Business Planning Services for developing world-class institutions, including operational planning, governance, organisational structure, staffing requirements, and learning and cultural programming for museums and cultural attractions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000sqm of Main Galleries designed at Grand Egyptian Museum
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A3 ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Working alongside A3 architects to create a holistic masterplan for the Aeronautical Museum at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. CI is developing exhibition content while A3 handles architectural design.
• Haley Sharpe DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Haley Sharpe Design on the Grand Egyptian Museum Main Galleries. Cultural Innovations led content development and interpretive planning while Haley Sharpe contributed to exhibition design.
• BECK (Beck Interiors)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing partnership with BECK for design and build projects. Appointed together for KAUST Welcome Center project in Saudi Arabia. BECK creates detailed design, manages fabrication and oversees installation.
• Kiss the FrogcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of pan-European consortium delivering Great Viking Journey at Museum of the Viking Age in Oslo. CI is leading narrative and script development while Kiss the Frog provides creative direction and AV media design.
• PGAV DestinationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed together with PGAV Destinations and Reed-Hilderbrand to develop Comprehensive Interpretive Masterplan for The Alamo heritage site.
• Reed-HilderbrandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architects working with CI and PGAV Destinations on The Alamo masterplan project.
• SSH DesigncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitects for Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre project in Kuwait. CI worked closely with SSH architects to develop the cultural complex.
• Tsiskari FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed by Tsiskari Foundation in 2013 to develop content and storylines for Museum of Georgian Christianity.
• Astana Expo 2017 National CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed to design Africa and Caribbean Community Plazas for Expo Astana 2017 dedicated to 'Future Energy' theme.
• National Army MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarried out feasibility study for potential War Horse international touring exhibition based on NAM's successful special exhibition.
• Henning Larsen ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned by Henning Larsen Architects to develop content, interpretive planning, exhibition design for Children's Interactive Museum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Serie ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCI oversaw architectural competition won by Serie Architects from UK for Jameel Arts Centre project in Dubai.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Event Communications: Event Communications is a London-based museum and exhibition design consultancy. It competes with CI for interpretive and exhibition design mandates at museums, science centres, and heritage sites, particularly in the UK and Europe.
• Mather & Co: Mather & Co is a UK-based exhibition and interpretive design firm specializing in museums, visitor centres, and heritage attractions. It competes directly with CI on cultural masterplanning, content, and exhibition design mandates in the UK and internationally.
• BRC Imagination Arts: BRC Imagination Arts is a US-based experience design and production firm specializing in museums, brand experiences, and cultural attractions. It competes with CI on narrative development and experience design for flagship cultural projects.
• Haley Sharpe Design: Haley Sharpe Design is a UK-based exhibition design firm that has partnered with CI on the Grand Egyptian Museum Main Galleries. It offers comparable exhibition and interpretive design services for museums and cultural venues, making it a direct peer with documented collaboration.
• Gallagher & Associates: Gallagher & Associates is a US-based museum planning and exhibition design firm. It directly competes with CI for museum masterplanning and interpretive design mandates, particularly in North America.
• Jack Rouse Associates (Thinkwell): Thinkwell Group (including the legacy Jack Rouse Associates practice) is a global experience design firm delivering masterplanning, content, and design for museums, theme parks, and cultural attractions. It directly competes with CI for flagship interpretive and design mandates.
• Ralph Appelbaum Associates: Ralph Appelbaum Associates is one of the world's largest exhibition design firms, working on flagship museums and cultural institutions globally. It directly competes with CI on interpretive planning and exhibition design for major museums and cultural centers.
• Casson Mann: Casson Mann is a London-based exhibition design practice with deep experience in museums, galleries, and visitor attractions. It competes with CI on exhibition design and interpretive planning for cultural institutions, particularly in the UK and European market.
• PGAV Destinations: PGAV Destinations is a US masterplanning and design firm specializing in cultural attractions, museums, and visitor destinations. It has partnered with CI on The Alamo Comprehensive Interpretive Masterplan and competes in the same masterplanning space.
• Lord Cultural Resources: Lord Cultural Resources is a global cultural planning and consulting firm that delivers museum, heritage, and cultural destination advisory services. It is the closest direct peer to Cultural Innovations, offering strategy, masterplanning, and operational planning for museums and cultural institutions worldwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DYCLdzjjRIj
• Xx.com/culturalinnovat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cultural Innovations